Recent Animal Articles

400mm vs. 600mm: Which Telephoto Lens Should You Choose?

Wildlife photography often demands a significant investment in gear, especially when choosing between two of the most versatile telephoto lenses: the 400mm f/2.8 and the 600mm f/4. Each has its strengths, but finding the right fit depends on your shooting style, subjects, and typical distances.

Don't Fall for the Lies That 'Real' Photographers Want to Tell You

The best thing about the internet is that there are so many sources of photography education out there. The worst thing about the internet is... that there are so many sources of photography education out there. So how do you sort facts from lies told so often that they’ve acquired the status of fact?

Essential Tips for Shooting Wildlife in Wet Weather

Wildlife photography in the rain offers opportunities you won't find in fair weather. The atmospheric mood, unusual animal behaviors, and transformative effect of rain on landscapes can make your images stand out. Beyond the challenges of staying dry, rain brings scenes to life in ways that fair weather simply cannot, adding depth and story to your photos.

The One Time a Photographer Should Be Mean

Are you kind? That sounds like an odd question to ask in a photographic article, but it impacts your work profoundly. However, there is one circumstance where you should be mean to other photographers.

Experience Canon's Beautiful Tribute to Yellowstone National Park

For nearly 30 years, Canon U.S. has partnered with Yellowstone Forever, and I recently received a beautiful photography book based on Yellowstone National Park and Canon's short film "Seismic." In this article, I interview two of the amazing creators behind this project.

Conservation Photography in the Rainforest: A Must-See Documentary

In the heart of Ecuador's Chocó rainforest, a mission to save the critically endangered brown-headed spider monkey unfolds. Led by conservation photographer Jonas Paurell, this gripping documentary captures the raw beauty and challenges of rainforest conservation.

A Dog’s Day Out at Venice Beach in 8K 360 Video

Venice Beach, California, is a vibrant place, perfect for capturing spontaneous moments. Kimchi, our furry guide, takes you on an amusing VR adventure through this iconic location.

Transforming a Pine Stand into a Wildlife Haven

Providing a diverse environment for various species involves thoughtful planning and execution. This awesome video explores the creation of a vernal pool to support amphibian breeding and enhance biodiversity.

Teaching a Landscape Photographer How to Photograph Wildlife

Are you a landscape photographer wanting to start photographing wildlife? You may have the art of landscape photography figured out, but photographing wildlife is a whole other challenge. Don’t let that deter you, as this video shares several fantastic tips for getting started.

Why Your Gear Matters Most for the Ultimate Photography Genre

Bird photography is arguably the most demanding genre. The equipment quality, the photographer's camera skills, and their ability to create a narrative are pushed far beyond any other genre. Here’s what I discovered about cameras, lenses, and bird photography.

Adding Depth and Dimension: Mastering Tonal Contrast in Editing

The ability to create a sense of depth and realism in your photographs is important for conveying the true essence of a scene. While modern cameras are capable of capturing incredible detail, raw image files often lack the dynamic range and tonal contrast necessary to bring your images to life. This is where understanding and utilizing tonal contrast becomes essential for transforming flat, lifeless images into captivating visual stories.

A Hands-on Experience With the Sony a9 III

The announcement of the Sony a9 III set the photography world alight with excitement as it became the first camera to feature a global shutter. In this video from Julia Trotti, she puts the camera through its paces in a sports environment. Let's see how she gets on.

The Pollinator Path: A Video Journey Among Cornwall's Rarest Bees

Embarking on an intrepid journey through Cornwall's rugged landscapes, our mission to capture one of the UK's rarest bees, the Large Scabious Mining Bee, unfolds amidst the wild beauty of a National Trust farm. Join us as we delve into the world of solitary bees, where conservation efforts are sparking hope in the most unexpected of places.

Exploring the True Essence of Wildlife Photography: Beyond the Gear

Understanding the impact of equipment on wildlife photography is critical for photographers seeking to elevate their craft. This fantastic video explores the balance between gear, skill, and the psychological aspects influencing photographers' choices and perceptions.

We Review the Pergear 260 GB CFExpress Type A Card

In the past few months, I have been converted to a CFExpress Type A user following some great experiences with the Exascend CFExpress cards, and this week I wanted to try out another affordable card from Pergear to see how it compares. Join me in this article as I put this card to the test.

What Camera Gear to Pack When You Visit The Polar Regions

It's a trip of a lifetime, after all. You'll to want to make sure you have the right gear with you when the bears start sparring or the leopard seals give chase to an unsuspecting penguin chick out for its first swim. I asked two experts in the field to provide their recommendations: Marius Coetzee, with Oryx Photo Tours, which operates in both northern and southern polar regions and Paul Zizka who runs his own photography workshops as well as working with OFFBEAT, running photo tours in the northern polar regions. I also guide with GAdventures, exploring Antarctica, and Frontiers North Adventures, leading adventures in Canada's sub-Arctic.

A Few Thoughts on Resolutions From Working Photography Professionals

As the year comes to a close and another begins, it’s a natural time to take stock. I like to look back on the past year and decided what lessons I’ve learned, and what I can do better next year. Perhaps it’s time to think about new habits – which immediately brings to mind the specter of resolutions. Do you make any? Want to share with us?

Embracing the Environment in Wildlife Photography

Wildlife photography often gravitates towards close-up, frame-filling portraits, capturing intricate details of the subject. However, this approach, while initially appealing, can limit the storytelling potential of a photograph. This helpful video will show you how including context can improve your work.

Cold Weather Gear You Might Forget About

Speaking for wildlife and landscape photographers, we all seem to be interested in the fast glass (especially if it's longer than 600mm or wider than 24mm), better battery life, more frames per second, higher resolution, and a weather-sealed robust body that can take a licking. But, when the weather turns cold, there's something we can't shoot without: gloves.

A 500mm Prime Lens for $329: What's the Catch?

TTArtisan has recently announced a 500mm f/6.3 lens for Sony E Mount, Leica L Mount, Nikon Z Mount, and Canon RF Mount, and it is only $329! So, what is the catch? In this video by Olle Nilsson, he reviews this lens and explains the positives and negatives.

Wildlife Photography Challenge in London

Despite being an incredibly large and busy city, London has some very interesting and special wildlife, which you can see all year round. In this video from Harry Read and Edwin Towler, the lads have been given a list of twelve species to locate and photograph in one single day!

How to Capture Birds in Flight

Capturing birds mid-flight can be incredibly tricky and requires a lot of know-how. One of the biggest hurdles was the camera itself, but fortunately, we now have more tools at our disposal than ever before.
How Thinking About Camera Height Can Improve Your Wildlife Photos

Just like portrait photography, the height you hold your camera relative to your subject makes a significant difference in how your wildlife images come across to your viewers. If you would like to improve your wildlife images, check out this fantastic video tutorial that features an experienced photographer discussing the impact camera height has on storytelling in your photos.

A Day Out With the Little Owls

Wildlife photography has always been a passion for me. It's not something that pays the bills, but it's something that I love, and it is great for my own mental health. Recently, I was informed of a family of Little Owls in England, and the young Owlets had just begun fledging from the nest. I took the near three-hour drive down to the location and watched these beautiful creatures.

How to Pick the Winning Photo From a Series of Bird Images

There are some genres in which you simply have to take fast bursts of pictures in order to ensure you get the right image taken at just the perfect moment. Bird photography is one such genre. So, when you come home with hundreds or even thousands of photos, how do you know which to choose from those? This helpful video tutorial shares a wide variety of advice sure to assist you in choosing the perfect shot.

The Truth About Wildlife Photography

I'm a landscape photographer who knows that to take great photos you must put in the work. And even then, you might still go home empty-handed a lot of the time. As this video by Gareth Leonard shows, wildlife photographers might have an even more difficult job.

Capturing the Essence: Why Dog Photography With Families Is a Golden Opportunity

In a world full of a little bit of crazy one thing remains constant – our unwavering love for our furry companions. Dogs hold a special place in our hearts, becoming cherished members of our families. They warm our hearts from being mischievous mutts to regal pedigrees, our four-legged friends bring joy, companionship, and a whole lot of slobbery kisses.

33 Days Among the Bears

I'm sure some of you have seen the magnificent photos and videos of a polar bear sleeping in a bed of fireweed by Martin Gregus Jr. When I first saw it, I thought it wasn't real - it was just too perfect. But as this video documentary shows, it is, and taking those photos involved a significant amount of time, preparation, and effort.

Unleash the Fun: Must-Have Tools for Pawsome Pet Portrait Sessions

Attention, all pet-loving shutterbugs! If you're a studio portrait photographer with a passion for pup photography, then you've come to the right place. We're about to let you in on a little secret that will have those furry friends wagging their tails with joy during your next pet portrait session. That secret? It's all about the right tools. So, grab your camera and let's dive into the world of pet-tastic props!

Saying Goodbye: The Hardest Images I've Ever Taken!

If you're an animal lover with pets, you'll know how hard losing a beloved furry member of your family can be. To some, they are like our children and they are a massive part of our lives for many years. Sadly, I lost two dogs due to old age in quick succession, and I was asked reluctantly to capture some last portraits of them before they crossed the rainbow bridge.

This Might Be the Most Exciting Camera Feature in Years

For the most part, camera firmware updates are a relatively unexciting affair, mostly bringing bug fixes and minor new features. However, occasionally, manufacturers will introduce major new capabilities via firmware upgrades, and Nikon's latest firmware update for their flagship mirrorless camera, the Z 9, has introduced one of the most exciting features we have seen in years.

An Incredible Journey Shows the Power of Wildlife Photography and Conservation

Lara Jackson is an incredible wildlife photographer, conservation biologist, and children's book author. Over the last few years, Lara has had an incredible journey, becoming highly commended in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition to then becoming an ambassador with Nikon and Save The Rhino. I sat down with Lara to discuss this journey in more detail.

Wildlife Photography With the New Nikon Z8

Camouflaged to the max, Morten Hilmer is going full stealth mode on his farmland with the brand new Nikon Z8 for wildlife photography. Join Hilmer as he captures some magnificent wildlife with this new offering from Nikon.

Is the Canon R8 the Best Entry Level Full Frame Camera?

The Canon R8 is an affordable $1,500 full frame camera that is packed full of features. Is this currently the best entry-level full frame camera on the market for the price and how does it perform in wildlife photography? In this video, Simon d'Entremont covers the pros and cons in more detail.

Behind the Scenes of Bird Photography in Scotland

Bird photography is a challenging discipline to master and it's even more difficult when you are in locations that have erratic and invasive weather. In this video, Brent Hall goes to Scotland to shoot birds on cliffs and in rivers, with Scottish weather behaving exactly as it always does: poorly.
Photographing Orca And Puffins in Shetland

In this video, join Scottish photographer Adam Russell from The Nonsense Adventures as he visits the Shetland Islands off Scotland in search of some of the UK's amazing wildlife, which includes Orca, Puffins, and a Basking Shark.

Incredible Bird Photographer Shares Her Secret Tips

Bird photography is one of the most beloved subgenres of the craft and one of the most difficult. In this video, a professional bird photographer goes through her best tips on how you can capture some beautiful images of our feathery friends.
Why You Should Use Commercial Photography Hides

The use of commercial photography hides can be a controversial subject amongst wildlife photographers. In this article, I discuss the pros of such hides and how they can help you photograph those more elusive animals.

How to Take Great Wildlife Photos With Budget Gear

Wildlife photography can be a tremendously enjoyable genre, but it can also often need a heavy dose of rather expensive specialized equipment. Nonetheless, you can still create fantastic images with affordable cameras and lenses. This useful video tutorial will give you a range of useful tips to help you get the most out of budget equipment and still come home with excellent photos.

Namibia: Tips for a Photography Road Trip Across Southern Africa

Preparation is key when it comes to planning a trip to Namibia — a true land of extremes that can only be fairly described using hyperbole. As beautiful as Namibia is, to get the most out of your trip, you need to be prepared and well organized. Here are my tips for bringing back the best wildlife and landscape photographs from a trip across Southern Africa.

Editing Tips That Can Transform Your Photos

Sometimes even the most beautiful moment captured doesn't quite translate into the final image. In these circumstances, it might be a mistake you made while shooting, but it could also be something that can be fixed in post-production.
6 Common Wildlife Photography Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Wildlife photography is a challenging genre that requires sound technique, specialized equipment, particular knowledge, and heaps of patience, often for just a few seconds of prime opportunity for a shot. Whether you are new to the genre or a seasoned pro, this helpful video tutorial will show you six common mistakes wildlife photographers make and how to fix them or avoid them in the first place.